9 Best European Google Drive Alternatives in 2026

Proton Drive is the end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service from Proton, the Swiss privacy company behind ProtonMail. Every file is encrypted on your device before upload — not even Proton can access your data — and shared links can be password-protected with expiry dates. It includes Proton Docs and Sheets for encrypted real-time document and spreadsheet collaboration.

Available on web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, Proton Drive syncs files automatically via a desktop folder. 5 GB of free storage is included with every Proton account, with upgrades that bundle Mail, Calendar, VPN, and Pass. An open-source codebase allows independent cryptographic verification by any researcher.

Key benefits:

• Client-side E2E encryption — files are encrypted before leaving your device
• 5 GB free storage with every Proton account, no credit card required
• Password-protected sharing with configurable expiry on shared links
• Automatic mobile photo backups with encrypted collaborative album sharing
• Proton Docs and Sheets for encrypted real-time collaborative document editing
• Desktop sync folder on Windows and macOS for automatic file synchronisation
• Open-source code for independent cryptographic audit by the community

Proton AG is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, which operates under some of the world's strictest privacy laws, outside U.S. and UK jurisdiction. The service is GDPR-compliant, holds ISO 27001 certification, and is audited by independent security researchers. Switzerland's constitutional privacy protections and absence of mandatory data retention laws provide a legal framework stronger than most EU alternatives.

Part of the Proton ecosystem trusted by over 100 million users worldwide — from journalists and activists to enterprises requiring sovereign data storage.

Internxt is a Valencia-based zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage platform where files are encrypted client-side before upload — not even Internxt can access your data — using post-quantum Kyber-512 + AES-256 cryptography. An open-source codebase and independent security audit by Securitum in 2024 provide external verification of every security claim.

Files sync across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android via native apps. Sharing works through encrypted links that are password-protected and time-limited, while Internxt Send enables large-file transfers with zero provider access. A permanently free 1 GB plan requires no credit card, and lifetime payment options eliminate recurring subscription costs.

Key benefits:

• Zero-knowledge E2E encryption — Internxt cannot access files even under legal compulsion
• Post-quantum cryptography (Kyber-512 + AES-256) for future-proof data protection
• Open-source code independently audited by Securitum in 2024
• 1 GB permanently free — no credit card, no expiry
• Lifetime plans available as one-time payment with no recurring subscription
• Internxt Send — encrypted large-file transfers with expiring, password-protected links
• ISO 27001:2022 and HIPAA certified for enterprise and healthcare use cases

Headquartered in Valencia, Spain, Internxt processes all data under GDPR and EU data protection law. The platform holds ISO 27001:2022 and HIPAA certifications, stores all data in the EU, and was independently security-audited. Founded in 2020 by Fran Villalba Segarra, it offers the most rigorous open-source privacy credentials of any EU cloud storage provider.

Built for individuals, freelancers, and teams who want provably private cloud storage — because the code is open for anyone to verify, not just a privacy policy to trust.

Nextcloud is Germany's most widely deployed open-source collaboration platform, letting organisations run their own private cloud for file sync, video calls, email, and document editing on their own servers. With 400,000+ active deployments reaching tens of millions of users, it is the definitive European alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

The platform combines Nextcloud Files (storage and sync), Nextcloud Talk (chat and video), Nextcloud Groupware (calendar and contacts), and Nextcloud Office (real-time document editing) in a single installation. A REST API and 300+ marketplace apps extend it with LDAP, SAML, SharePoint, and hundreds of third-party integrations.

Key benefits:

• File sync and share across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android clients
• Nextcloud Talk — end-to-end encrypted video calls and chat with no external service
• Nextcloud Office — real-time collaborative document, spreadsheet, and presentation editing
• Built-in AI assistant running locally with no data leaving your infrastructure
• 300+ marketplace apps for CRM, project management, e-signing, and more
• Full self-hosting on bare metal, VMs, Docker, or Kubernetes
• Enterprise edition with professional support, compliance tooling, and SLA guarantees

Developed and maintained by Nextcloud GmbH in Stuttgart, Germany, all data stays on infrastructure you control — no third-party cloud involved. The platform is GDPR-native, supports HIPAA-capable configurations, and is used by major EU governments, universities, and public institutions that mandate on-premises data sovereignty.

Trusted by Siemens, the German Government, and thousands of public sector organisations across Europe, with 20,000+ GitHub stars and an active global community.